Gold on Damp Skin
Sarah Elle’s Post-Shower Self-Care Ritual that Makes You Feel Expensive
There’s a fleeting window—right after you’ve turned off the tap and before the steam disappears—when your skin is warm and your senses are rejuvenated.
This is not your typical get-ready routine.
It’s not for anyone watching. It’s not even for the mirror.
This is for you.
These are my everyday luxuries—small things that make a big difference. After the shower, I take a few extra minutes to care for myself. Not because I have to, but because I want to feel good.
I invite you to create your own version of this. Set your products out, take your time, and don’t skip the part where you take care of you. You deserve that moment.
First, my CeraVe Foaming Cleanser—basic but brilliant. I use it every day. I always wash my face and rinse with cold water. Something about the contrast—the heat from the shower and the cold splash from the sink—makes my skin feel extra clean, like a full reset.
It’s not fancy. But it works. And that clean-face-feel is something I look forward to every single time.
Then, I reach for my Nemohamo oil, something our hotel gifted us in Kyoto and I’ve been obsessed with ever since. It’s light, clean, natural, and melts into my skin without effort. I press a few drops into my cheekbones, my jaws, under my eyes—wherever the light hits right.
Next, I layer in my everyday essentials. Those quiet heroes.
I comb my hair with my Tangle Teezer—a birthday gift from my cousin that basically replaced brushing for me. It’s gentle, easy, and works whether my hair’s wet or dry. Most days, I’ll spray in whatever detangler my hairstylist last convinced me to try. I’m not loyal to one, but they always smell amazing and do the job. It’s not a whole hair routine, I’ll leave that for the rare blowout. But it is just enough to feel put together.
Then, I’ll add some gloss and moisture back into my hair. The &honey Hair Oil is an unmistakable Don Quijote gem that I’ve been using since I bought it. It brings life back to your ends and a glow to your day. Last time I went to the hairdresser, she told me my ends were fabulous. I didn’t have the heart to tell her it wasn’t a salon treatment—it was a $30 bottle of hair oil from a Japanese discount store. But the girlies know. Somehow it makes me feel like I’ve had a blowout… when I’ve done nothing at all.
On my vanity, I grab my earrings from the ceramic tray I got from Simons. It holds my little dupe Bottega Venetta earrings with quiet elegance. And when it doesn’t, it holds our face towels or favorite scents. Yes, at our house, every object has its place. Every detail speaks in poetry.
I’ve just put on my Ulivary kimono. It came as part of a brand gift a while ago—one of those thoughtful collaborations that somehow turned into my favorite thing. Every evening, after I slip into my nighties or a little lace something, I wrap my body in the silk leopard kimono. It’s become part of my wind-down. Peppermint tea in hand, an episode of Lost or Sex and the City queued up—it’s the kind of comfort that feels beautiful. Alas, I put my kimono on for the finishing touches. It’s not extra. It’s just me now.
And then, the final note: A spritz (or four) of Delina by Parfums de Marly. This is by far my most complimented perfume. I don’t even think it’s my favorite (though I want to gatekeep my signature scent just a little longer). Still, I’ve taken more chances on it. It smells divine on me. The little pink bottle brings a soft touch of femininity to the ensuite, sitting pretty on the tray like it belongs there.
Can we rewrite this now to match the rest of the article: I dress slowly. I massage my oils into my face with love because nothing less will do. I don’t rush. I don’t need to. I let it be a moment. To me, this is womanhood. This is luxury as devotion. This is gold on damp skin.
Because when you care for yourself like this—even in the smallest ways—you remember that softness is power, and presence is luxury. Here’s to an evening self-care routine that brings you back to yourself. Just remember: do it your way, with your favorite products.
xx
Sarah Elle
Featured Products in My Routine:
CeraVe Foaming Face Wash – Basic but brilliant.
Nemo Hamo Oil & Cream – A natural favorite from Kyoto. (Not currently linked; sourced from our hotel stay.)
Tangle Teezer Original Detangling Hairbrush – Gentle and effortless, my daily go-to.
&honey Deep Moist Hair Oil 3.0 – My $30 secret weapon from Don Quijote, Japan.
Textured Ceramic Standing Tray – Simons – Minimal, elegant, and holds it all.
Delina by Parfums de Marly – My most complimented scent.
Ulivary Leopard Kimono Robe – A brand gift turned daily favorite.
